Hong Kong to Require Eligible Establishment List

Starting on July 1, 2024, Hong Kong will require that a list of U.S. certified establishments exporting raw meat and poultry products to Hong Kong be submitted by FSIS. 

All establishments that are either on the China eligible establishment lists for beef, pork, and poultry, or the Mexico eligible establishment list for sheep, approved as of April 26, 2024, will automatically be listed in the FSIS certified eligible establishment list for Hong Kong.

All establishments that want to be eligible to export to Hong Kong and are not currently on the species-specific China or Mexico eligible establishment lists are required to submit a new 9080-3 application by May 24, 2024, through FSIS’ Public Health Information System (PHIS) to be considered by FSIS for the July 1, 2024, certified listing date. Hong Kong has not provided FSIS with its requirements for accepting new U.S. certified establishment lists after July 1, 2024. FSIS will provide updates once it has received this information.

FSIS Posts Quarterly Sampling Data and Quarterly Humane Handling Datasets

FSIS has updated the following quarterly sampling data sets:

• Quarterly Sampling Results - The quarterly sampling reports were updated to include results through the second quarter of fiscal year (FY) 2024. 
• Quarterly Sampling Reports on Antimicrobial Resistance Profile - The quarterly sampling reports for Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) Profile data were updated to include results through the first quarter of FY 2024. 
• Quarterly Sampling Reports for Salmonella Serotype Information - The quarterly sampling reports for Salmonella serotype information were updated to include results through the first quarter of FY 2024. 

Due to a delay in residue reporting, FSIS will update the following quarterly sampling data set on May 3, 2024:

• Quarterly U.S. National Residue Sampling Report – Residue sampling data is available for the second quarter of FY 2024. The report covers domestic (scheduled and inspector-generated) and import sampling programs.

In addition, the Quarterly Humane Handling Inspection Datasets were updated on the FSIS website. The datasets include: (1) the number of administrative enforcement actions taken, (2) the number of humane handling verification tasks performed, (3) the number of humane handling verification tasks that resulted in a noncompliance record (NR), and (4) the number of hours spent observing and verifying the humane treatment of livestock.

USDA Finalizes Policy to Protect Consumers from Salmonella in Raw Breaded Stuffed Chicken Products

FSIS announced its final determination to declare Salmonella an adulterant in raw breaded stuffed chicken products when they exceed a specific threshold (1 CFU per gram or higher) for Salmonella contamination.

This final determination is part of FSIS’ broader efforts to reduce Salmonella illnesses associated with the raw poultry supply in the United States. FSIS intends to address Salmonella contamination in other raw poultry products later this year.

Under this determination, FSIS will consider to be adulterated any raw breaded stuffed chicken products that include a chicken component that tested positive for Salmonella at 1 CFU per gram or higher. 

To view the final determination, visit the FSIS’ Federal Register Rules webpage.

For more details, view the full press release on the USDA website.

FSIS Posts Individual Category Status and Aggregate Results for Poultry Carcasses, Chicken Parts, and Comminuted Poultry Tested for Salmonella

On April 19, 2024, FSIS updated the individual establishment Salmonella performance standard category information for raw poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, and comminuted poultry products on the Salmonella Verification Testing Program Monthly Posting page on the FSIS website. Additionally, FSIS posted the aggregate sampling results showing the number of establishments in categories 1, 2, or 3 for establishments producing young poultry carcasses, raw chicken parts, or not ready-to-eat (NRTE) comminuted poultry products at the location linked above.

FSIS to Host Webinar on Voluntary U.S.-Origin Claims

On May 15, 2024, FSIS will host a webinar to provide an overview of the March 2024, “Voluntary Labeling of FSIS-Regulated Products with U.S.-Origin Claims” final rule and information about the related guidance. The webinar will also provide an opportunity for participants to ask questions.

The webinar will be held from 1:00-2:15 p.m. ET.

Establishments choosing to include voluntary U.S.-origin claims (e.g., “Product of USA”) on the labels of FSIS-regulated products will need to comply with the new regulatory requirements by January 1, 2026, and are encouraged to do so as soon as practicable.

The webinar will be held on Microsoft Teams. Pre-registration for the webinar is not required. Recordings of the webinar, along with presentation slides, will be posted on the FSIS website for those unable to attend. To access the webinar please visit the events page on the FSIS website.

FSIS to Discontinue Quarterly Establishment Information Letters

In July 2024, FSIS will discontinue issuing quarterly establishment information letters that are sent to meat and poultry establishments. These letters provided comprehensive results for products sampled by FSIS at an establishment within the past 12 months. 

FSIS continues to expand data products available in the Public Health Information System (PHIS) reports and online data postings. All data available in the letters will be available in PHIS reports and public data postings starting in July.

FSIS will post guidance explaining how establishments can access the data, including steps for creating a PHIS account, in an upcoming Constituent Update. Further details about PHIS, including guides to access the system, are available on the FSIS website.

PHIS Q&A

Question: As an establishment employee, where can I go if I have issues with PHIS?

Answer: For problems accessing PHIS or unexpected error messages or technical problems while using PHIS, please contact the FSIS Office of the Chief Information Officer, Customer Assistance Branch by calling 1 (800) 473-9135 or email FSISITCustomerAssistance@usda.gov.

For information on how to manage accounts and use the various features in PHIS, please refer to the PHIS Industry User Guide at Public Health Information System (PHIS) | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov) and click on "View the Guide."

For problems with PHIS export applications, please email PHISTechnicalQA@usda.gov.

Visit PHIS Help for Industry for additional resources.

Knowledge Article
askFSIS Public Q&A: Can we request an extension from the Labeling and Program Delivery Division (LPDD) if we cannot design, submit for approval and print the labels within 60 days?

Yes. If an establishment has circumstances for which it believes an extension of temporary approval is needed, it may request an extension. LPDS will evaluate the circumstances of each request on a case-by-case basis.

Questions? Please submit them through askFSIS by filling out the web form on the FSIS website.

SMALL PLANT ROUNDTABLE

May 7, 2024 - Orlando, FL
May 9, 2024 - Miami, FL
FSISCongressional@usda.gov

ESTABLISHMENT TOWN HALL

May 15, 2024
4 PM Eastern
FSIS@usda.gov

To sign up for the CONSTITUENT UPDATE, go to our website or email us at:
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